Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has ruled out Kylian Mbappe’s availability for their FIFA Club World Cup round of 16 showdown with Juventus on Tuesday.
The French star, who was recently hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis, has missed all three of Real Madrid’s group-stage matches.
While Mbappe has returned to training, he was left out of the squad entirely for Thursday’s 3-0 win over RB Salzburg, sparking fresh concerns about his fitness.
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“I don’t want to be optimistic and get ahead of myself, but we need him because he’s a top player, one of the best in the world. We hope he’s back soon,” Alonso said during the post-match press conference.
Mbappe’s absence is a major blow not only for Real Madrid but also for the expanded FIFA Club World Cup tournament, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes will become a global football spectacle.
The 26-year-old World Cup winner is one of the marquee names expected to boost global attention, alongside Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.
Since arriving at Real Madrid, Mbappe has become Los Blancos’ talisman, finishing last season as their top scorer with 43 goals in 56 appearances.
However, his participation in this tournament remains in doubt as he continues his recovery under medical supervision.
As Real Madrid aim to become the first club to lift the rebranded and expanded FIFA Club World Cup, all eyes remain on whether their star forward will be fit in time to face Juventus.
